The transposons are located at various places. Each transposon can be transferred independently. It is shown in the given figure with a single series of events leading to the generation of the R-plasmid. The figure regarding resistance-determinant segment is given below:
Here, Tn3 is within Tn6. This could have happened in a previous host genome or plasmid. Both Tn3 and Tn4 could transfer together to this plasmid.
A transposon can jump from a plasmid to a bacterial chromosome or from one plasmid to another plasmid. This is how multiple-drug-resistant plasmids are generated.
These transposons are originally detected as mobile genetic elements that confer drug resistant. These elements have Insertion Sequence (IS) elements, which tank a gene that encodes drug resistance.
These transposons promote drug-resistant bacteria by enhancing the movement of the resistant gene from the chromosome of resistant bacteria to a plasmid.